Attachment plug



July 12, 1938. T. McKEE' AT'IIVACHMENT PLUG Filed July 26, 1937 IVzmaHMfY ATTORN EYS I WITNESS 1 Patented July 12, 1938 PATENroFF CE.

arracmmmr PLUG Thomas McKee, Colorado Springs, 0010., asslgnor ot one-third to Margaret M. Dudte and onethird to C. B. Van llieman, both of Colorado Springs, Colo.

Application-July 26,

2 @laims.

This invention relates to an attachment pl and has for an object ,to provide an electrical connector of this type having U-shaped terminal prongs or bars provided with registering open g ings through which the end of a circuit wire may be passed and bent back to lie along the bar and v be clamped thereto by a sliding sleev the sleeve being adapted to be held in place by a spring plate of insulating material engaged in a groove in the wall of the plug body so that a terminal wire maybe quickly applied or removed'by an inexperienced person without unscrewing any of the parts or using tools.

invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a detail perspective view of an at-- tachment plug constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section view of the plug shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the plug.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the a U-shaped terminal bars and showing the wire receiving openings and the clamp sleeve.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, l designates the body of the plug the same being formed of insulating material and being provided with a cylindrical open ing ll of less diameter than thelargest diameter of the shell or body II). An annular groove I2 is formed in the wall of the opening parallel with the bottom I3 01' the opening. Channels M are formed in the body ID to receive circuit wires l of an electric cord or cable It, these channels opening through the bottom i3 of the body.

Each terminal of the plug comprises a U-shaped bar I! of spring metal one of the legs of the bar being bent at an angle to provide a foot l8 which extends along the bottom i3 of the plug body and is terminally bent downwardly to provide an anchoring prong I!) which is imbedded in the material of the body and is severed and bent at opposite directions at the tip to provide anchoring 56 lugs 20.

With the above and other objects in view the 1937, Serial No. 155,789

(Cl. 173-361) v The legs of the U-shaped terminal are provided withregistering openings 2| to receive the bared end of a circuit wire which end is bent reversely after being passed through openings as best shown in Figure 2.' A clamp sleeve 23, formed from a continuous band of metal, is slidably fitted on the legs of the U-shaped terminal and is adapted to be slid over the bent end of the conductor wire, asbest shown inFigure 2, and rigidly clamp the conductor wire to the terminal so that a good electrical connection is maintained under the most severe conditions of'service.

For anchoring the clamps 2| of the terminals in place a lock plate 26 formed of resilient insulating material is provided at diametrically opposite points in its longitudinal edges with notches 25, best shown in Figure 1; to receive the terminals ill. The plate is also cut away to provide recesses 26 adjacent the notches toreceive the top edges of the clamp sleeves 23, as best shown in Figure 2. The ends of the lock plate 24 are rounded as shown at 21 in Figure 4 to permit the lock platebeing sprung into the groove i2, as best shown in Figures 2 and 3 to hold the clamp sleeves firmly in operative position. i

a By simply inserting the fingers along the longitudinal'edges of the plate 24 the plate may be sprung out of the groove I2 to expose the clamp sleeves 23 either of which may he slid longitudinally of the respective terminal i1 to'permit application or removal of a circuit wire by an inexperienced person without the use of tools.

I From the above description. it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

1. An attachment plug comprising a body formed of insulating material and provided in one end with av cylindrical opening of less'diameter than the body, there being an annular groove formed in the wall of the opening parallel with the bottom of the opening, there being channels formed in the body receiving circuit wires and a pair of electric terminals, each terminalcompris- 'ing a U-shaped bar of spring metal, one of the legs of the bar being bent at an angle to provide an attaching toot embedded in thematerial oi the body, the legs of the bar being provided with registering openings to receive the bared reversely bent end of a circuit wire. a metal clamp sleeve slidably fitted on the legs of the bar andadapted to be slid over the bent end of the circuit wire to rigidly clamp the wire to the bar and maintain good electrical connection, and a resilicut lock plate of insulating material adapted to be sprung at the ends into said groove and to bear upon the clamp sleeves of saidpair or terminals for releasably holding the clamp sleeves in- 4 operative position.

2.- An attachment plug comprising a body of insulating material provided with a cylindrical opening of less diameter than the body, an an: nular groove formed concentrically in the wall oi the opening, channels formed in the body to receive circuit wires and a pair 01 electric terminals, each terminal comprising a U shaped bar of spring metal projecting from the open end of the body and having one of the legs bent at an angle'to provide an attaching foot anchoring the 2,1as,aoo

bar to the bottom of said opening, both legs of the bar being provided with registering openings near the bottom of the first named opening adapted to receive the hatred reverselyfbent end of a circuit wire, a metal clamp sleeve slidably 

